Global Action Through Fashion is a non- profit
founded with the vision to create a more equitable
and sustainable world through fashion. We provide
education & informational resources for consumers, producers & fashion industry professionals.

LETTERS

ABOUT

PROJECTS

consumers are the most powerful asset in
shaping a better world; their decisions drive the
behavior of corporations whose supply chains
directly affect lives of millions and the health of
our planet. GATF works to help consumers realize
that power and use it to drive positive social and
environmental change. in addition, GATF seeks to
equip fashion producers to respond to that demand
quickly, efficiently, and effectively by providing
innovative open source solutions and a database of
information.

Global Action Through Fashion
www.globalactionthroughfashion.org

5 7 11

FUTURE

TEAM

BOARD

FIANCES

2011

ALLIES

29 33 35 37 40 42

2

“While we may be sick of hearing about green, one thing’s for sure — it’s not going away
anytime soon. the bay area’s own Global Action Through Fashion is keeping
eco-friendly fun and relevant with fashion events... the nonprofit do-gooders offer
educational workshops and networking events as well, so keep your eye on their calendar and
know you’ve done your part to create a healthier world.”

- Named “Best of San Francisco 2010”
by San Francisco’s 7x7 Magazine

4

LETTERS

5

Message from
the Founders

Letters from the
Advisory
Board Chair

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s hard to believe that only one year has

sistance regarding ethical supply chains to produc-

The importance of networking to support, educate,

passed since we started Global Action Through

ers and to provide resources and information to

and instill the morals and values of sustainable

Fashion. We have made great strides in furthering

the fashion community and the world of individual

our mission to make the world a better place through

consumers. The number of for-profit social enter-

fashion and we have done it on a shoestring budget

prises with environmental and social missions is on

product development to the global society are at
the core of the mission of Global Action Through
Fashion (GATF). The act of getting dressed is a

of less than $20,000. We created a comprehen-

the rise, but for-profits alone are not enough. In the

process we each participate in, often several times

sive online database of ethical fashion resources,

for-profit realm of ethical fashion, Global Action

a day, as we change clothes between roles and ac-

brought together thousands of practitioners to

tivities. Fashion is an enabling process that allows

learn from each other, began working on a docu-

Through Fashion is the facilitator of growth and
the moral compass of the ethical fashion industry.

mentary film, and managed dozens of programs

Endless thanks to everyone who believed in us and

around us. The vital importance of GATF in interpret-

striving to improve the world through fashion. Our

continues to have faith in our work. Our success

ing and proclaiming the change that fashion must

dedicated and mostly volunteer team has worked

is only possible through your continued support.

make to sustain humanity and the environment is
paramount. In their first year, Domenica and Grant

hard to achieve our shared goals. We are deeply
grateful to them and our sponsors for their support.
We are confident that ethical fashion is the

and there are serious challenges to associating â&#x20AC;&#x153;buyâ&#x20AC;?

magazines, and organizations, GATF goes a step further

know. This is both a challenge and an opportu-

with positive impact to the world. We address these

to serve as the hub for key information and resources

nity. We do not sell clothes, run profitable fashion

concerns as a non- profit and aspire to serve as the

regarding ethical fashion. Furthermore, the content

shows, or compete in the industry for market share.

industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s barometer for conscious consumerism.

delivered by most ethical fashion industry advocates

While this means it is often a struggle to finance

industry and allow it to grow its impact in the

often unquestionably praises the growing ethical

our work, we do not face the conflicts that arise

world. Large retailers and brands, through their

fashion community of for-profit companies. GATF

from following profits and a bottom line. Instead,

sheer scale, have the greatest capacity to improve

maintains an objective and critical posture, serving as

we are able to focus one hundred percent on our

the lives of workers and protect the planet. By mak-

the moral compass and information hub of this emerg-

mission to make the world a better place and pro-

ing their businesses more sustainable, they can

ing industry and providing producers and consumers

vide an honest and unbiased perspective about the

create models for best practice in the fashion in-

with valuable knowledge and best practice guidelines.

state of the industry and best practices. Fashion and

dustry and have a positive impact on our world.

ABOUT

10

2010 PROGRAMS

S AND PROJECTS

PROJECTS

The First Bay Area Ethical Fashion Night
April 4th, 2010
A first in San Francisco, GATFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Bay Area

Every detail aligned with the values of ethical fash-

was twofold: first, to educate people about the many

Ethical Fashion Night brought together 400 key ethi-

ion. Sponsors generously provided organic, local

approaches one could take as a consumer or a

cal fashion stakeholders under one roof to learn from

and fair trade food and beverages, including VeeV

producer to have a positive impact on the world

each other, connect, and foster a community. Indus-

Vodka, Alter Eco Chocolate, Mate Veza Beer, Adina

through fashion; and second, to create a com-

try professionals and consumers came together for

Beverages, FairHills Wine, and Stacy Scott Catering,

munity where these companies and institutions

the ultimate night of networking and learning at the

Seventeen for-profit ethical fashion companies, non-

could work together to create change. Participants

Hub SoMa in the San Francisco Chronicle building.

profits, and academic institutions networked and edu-

had the opportunity to speak with industry lead-

Participants learned first- hand about the intricacies,

cated participants about how their work positively im-

ers one-on-one to learn, network and collaborate.

complexities and opportunities in ethical fashion,

pacts the world. Visual media discussed the challenges

Discussions ranged from the complex, such as how fair

from fair trade apparel production in Peru to refash-

and opportunities of ethical fashion, fair trade, social

trade supply chains can help thousands of producers

ioning hospital scrubs into stunning couture gowns.

entrepreneurship, and more. The goal of the night

get themselves out of poverty, to a simpler explana-

tion about how used plastic bottles can become new

the Pacific researched and created a display on Social

clothing. Attendees had the opportunity to handle

Entrepreneurship and Fashion. San Francisco State

environmentally responsible fabrics and learn about

University created an interactive map for participants

the detrimental impact many conventional textiles

to learn about what part of the world their clothing

have on the environment. A few participants included

came from. California College of the Arts and San Fran-

Indigenous Designs, Escama Studio, PACT, Vagadu,

cisco Academy of Art featured innovative designs and

Stuart+Brown, VIE PR, Eco Citizen Boutique, Medium

educational tools created by fashion design students.

Reality, Teens Turning Green, Blank Verse Jewelry, The

The

San Francisco Academy of Art, California College of the

established GATF as a leader in the community. Four

Arts and San Francisco State University. Participants

hundred participants left engaged, inspired, and

left with a greater understanding regarding the im-

empowered to take action in making the world a

pact of their fashion choices on the planet. Profession-

better place through fashion.

als left with increased understanding of the opportu-

overwhelming

success

of

this

endeavor

nities available to improve industry practices with the
knowledge that the support network was in place
to follow through and implement those changes.
The

location

in

San

Francisco

was

ideal.

San Francisco is a recognized hub for the
Green movement, social initiatives, and socially
and environmentally responsible design. The problem facing San Francisco is that there is no support
network for the ethical fashion community and no
united movement. There is very little opportunity for
different actors to network, collaborate, share best
practices, and work together to have significant impact on improving the global apparel industry. At the
First Bay Area Ethical Fashion Night, we achieved
producers together to meet and collaborate. We created the opportunity for leaders to meet on a large
scale and, as a result, new partnerships formed.
GATF is particularly passionate about empowering
students who are the future of the fashion industry.
It was our goal that students would not only learn at
our event but also feel ownership of it. University of

Global Action Through Fashion reminds the world
that they indeed can reuse, repurpose, up-cycle and
recycle. That is something you are unlikely to hear
from a for- profit company interested in their bottom line. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the 2.5 billion pounds of postconsumer
textile waste in the U.S. represents 10 pounds for
every person, most of which goes into landfills. The
idea that dressing ethically is not only about conscientious buying but also about combining waste
and creativity to make new things served as the
inspiration for our second project on June 24, 2010.
Everyone owns t-shirts, usually many. They are
staple items, worn as undergarments, given as gifts
at events, and used to convey messages ranging
from what musicians one likes to messages advocating ethical fashion choices. The social-environmental
statistics on t-shirts alone are shocking. It takes about
a third of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers and up
to 10,000 liters of water to produce just the cotton
to manufacture a single t-shirt. This is not even taking into account the chemicals and water poured
into the dyeing and finishing process, the carbon

15

footprint of shipping that garment around the world,

old clothes to create couture garments of the high-

the human labor required to sew it together, and the

est quality for both men and women including vests,

impact of all those chemicals on the people along

shirts, and dresses. Page creates his line of high-end

the production line. An overwhelming 1.2 million

leather jackets from salvaged leather from the car

brand new t-shirts sell every day in the U.S. alone.

seats of luxury vehicles he buys at the junkyard.

At Reconstruct, Reincarnate and Re-cool your T-Shirt,

Both designers prove that used materials, which

a team of tailors and printers helped participants up-

many consider waste, can indeed be made into

cycle their old t-shirts into something exciting and

high-end new products that are competitive with

new. Participants who had never before used a needle

any conventional luxury product. Participants net-

and thread learned to turn old t-shirts into new shirts,

worked and met designers, producers, industry

scarves, dresses, hats and more. Participants cut fabric,

professionals, and academics working in the ethical

wove fabric, embellished, and silkscreened â&#x20AC;&#x153;Global

fashion arena. Once again, this GATF event left con-

Action Through Fashionâ&#x20AC;? onto t-shirts along with the

sumers and industry leaders empowered to have

GATF logo and an image of the globe as a heart, mak-

a positive impact on the world through fashion.

ing old clothes into something new. This workshop
was much more than a fun evening of arts and crafts.
It addressed some of the solutions to the larger fashion
threats facing our world. It taught participants to use
less for more. Instead of disposing of an old garment,
participants learned to make something new with it.
This keeps old garments out of the landfill and
makes

something

resources.

new

Through

without
the

using

more

reconstruction

process, participants learned how to sew, enabling them to repair, alter, and prolong the lives of
many more garments to come, saving thousands
of gallons of water, and reducing the use of harmful
chemicals. Along with cutting, sewing, and refashioning, ethical fashion designers Joui Turandot of
Vagadu and Dustin Page of Platinum Dirt spoke,
educating and inspiring participants. They are
leading Bay Area ethical fashion designers who create their lines out of postconsumer waste and discarded fashion. Turandot refashions fabric scrap and

stopping only to dance a little and flirt (a lot) they listen to speeches

from designers from sustainable lines Vagadu and Platinum Dirt, who encourage and
inspire the fervor with details of the reconstruction techniques they utilize in their designs.
Maybe it was the Veev, but in that moment i wondered if i’d been transported to a

marvelous green utopia from the future. and it was a brief shining spot
that won’t be forgotten by any of us that attended.”
– Rowena Ritchie,
Eco Salon

$819 million of which is classified as mortally hazardous by the World Health Organization. In India,

19

PROJECTS

cotton is responsible for the release of at least
two billion dollars worth of chemical
pesticide spraying each year.

20

Online Resource
and News Source
expanded immensely. The website now provides
the most comprehensive critical resources available
for producers and consumers, as well as blogs and
reporting on the news in ethical fashion. A team of
professionals, academics, and writers meticulously
update the site, the blogs, and news articles regularly.
The fashion industry is not evil. We believe fashion
retailers, large apparel companies, producers, and
consumers do want to have a positive impact on
the world through fashion but, most of the time,
lack the technical know-how. Complicating matters further, ethical fashion is not a black and white
field. The many sources of available information are
often conflicting and difficult to filter and understand.
that

helps

single

the opportunity to be educated and empowered to

dyeing, cutting, sewing, finishing, shipping and

make choices that will positively impact the world.

a guide for all types of social and environmental

presence of Global Action Through Fashion has

no

tion and education. This guide provides visitors

tion about fiber production to spinning, weaving,

tion of ethical fashion, information about textiles,

Throughout the course of this first year, the online

is

ing consumers and producers: the lack of informa-

tion supply chain. The resources include informa-

more. This detailed resource outlines the defini-

The Website

There

be fair to people working along the entire produc-

other

consumers,

resource

fashion

available

retailers,

and

manufacturers make educated decisions about fashion. For example, what is the best fiber with which to
produce a line of t-shirts? What certifications are
available for fair trade supply chains stretching from
India to the US? What companies produce ethical
blue jeans? GATFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online resource is the solution.
Resources for producers include information about
how to reduce their impact on the environment and

certifications, resources for sourcing ethically, and links
to other great organizations and companies in the field.
Resources for consumers include educational
articles about the issues and a guide on how to be
an ethical consumer. Many consumers are overwhelmed by what they read about sweatshops and
are largely unaware of the environmental impact
fashion has on the earth and workers. The website lays it out for them in an understandable way
and provides consumers with the information they
need to dig deeper and learn more. Also provided
is a guide for how consumers can make a positive
impact through fashion. This resource covers how
to care for your garments (2/3 of the environmental impact of a piece of clothing happens after you
buy it!), how to recycle and reconstruct used clothing, and ethical decision-making for shoppers.
The news and blog sections cover issues ranging
from the real impact of fur and faux fur on animals
and the environment to recent apparel labor riots in Bangladesh and related government policies. Also included is the Week in Review that eloquently sums up the top news each week to keep
everyone current with the global fashion industry.
A team of industry professionals and academics
maintains the news section. The online resource
guide addresses one of the biggest obstacles fac-

PROJECTS

22

PROJECTS

23

The 25th Street
Collective

activists and artists venture through the spaces while

October 5, 2010

dios. This space will house small sustainable fash-

In order to foster a local community of ethical fash-

Dirt. The collective will also provide non-prof-

ion producers, Global Action Through Fashion

it office space in addition to GATF’s office.

co-founded the 25th Street Collective, an Ethical

The mobile walls of the space will permit a spacious

Fashion and Sustainable Business Incubator in

open area for large workshops and events. GATF will

downtown Oakland. Many of the greatest innovations

host workshops at the 25th Street Collective on a

in sustainable design come from small indepen-

regular basis, ranging from ethical fashion reconstruc-

dent designers and recent fashion graduates that

tion, to environmentally friendly dyeing, methods of

have the freedom to risk, to test and to play beyond

evaluating fair trade supply chains and much more.

the limits of the current market. Unfortunately, it

The grand public opening of the space is scheduled

is difficult to establish a small design business and

for April 2011. It is our goal to empower small fashion

it is even harder to sustain one. GATF has teamed

designers to have greater impact and create a repli-

up with Hiroko Hurikara Designs to establish a

cable model for ethical innovation and collaboration.

collective studio space and storefront for small
sustainable businesses in the Bay Area. This
collective will bea center for ethical fashion
design and production, and will provide employment
opportunities to many throughout the SF Bay Area.
The large, well-lit warehouse space will provide the
tools and workspace designers need to support
their own sustainable businesses. Part of the space
will be a shared commons, including a conference
room, a collective sewing space equipped with cutting tables and industrial sewing equipment, a storefront, access to marketing and business services,
and a collective set of people with shareable skills
and knowledge. The first Friday of every month,
the sewing collective will open its doors for the
Oakland Art Murmur where thousands of social

providing collective members an opportunity to
share their work. Rental space will be available for
private workshops in 5x10’, 10x10’, and 20x10’ stuion designers like B Spoke Tailor and Platinum

PROJECTS

University Collaboration
The future of the fashion industry is currently in the

university students and academic institutions.

served as judges in the California College of the Arts

classroom, in fashion design and merchandising

GATF energizes students through presentations

sustainability critique for fashion students’ de-

programs around the world. It is vital that students

and lectures on Ethical Fashion, and assists fac-

signs. GATF collaborated with the University of

are empowered and provided with the tools they

ulty to create integrated curriculum on ethical

the Pacific Integrated Development Program to

need to integrate sustainability into their studies and

fashion. GATF also provides students with vol-

create the ethical fashion company database. Pa-

future work. In an ideal 2020, ethical fashion will not

unteer

GATF

cific students researched social entrepreneurship

be a separate class, but it will be an integrative part

provides

recent

in the fashion industry and helped hands-on at

of every class and everyone’s life. GATF promotes

graduates, giving them professional experience and

the First Bay Area Ethical Fashion Night. In the pro-

the innovative designs of students developing the

knowledge in the field. Interns take ownership of

cess, they learned about how fashion can be a so-

field of ethical fashion. The future of ethical fashion

specific projects and give significant creative input.

cial entrepreneurial industry and related it back to

is dependent upon sustainability as an integrated

In 2010, GATF presented at the following Universi-

their studies. SFSU students created an interactive

part of fashion. In order for this to be the case, it must

ties: (i) University of the Pacific, (ii) San Francisco State

educational display at GATF’s First Bay Area Ethical

begin while future fashion designers and industry

University’s (SFSU) Apparel Design Merchandising

Fashion Night that educated and engaged partici-

are in the classroom. GATF works to empower and

program and its Graduate Business program, and (iii)

pants about clothing production around the world.

educate fashion’s future leaders by working with

California College of the Arts (CCA). GATF founders

and

internship

internships

to

opportunities.
students

and

Lecture Series and
Converences
The GATF team lectures on ethical fashion and the
role of fashion in making the world a better place.
Along with the multiple university lectures, GATF
has participated in lecture series and conferences
including the Net Impact Lecture series and the
Start’s With You (SWU) conference in Sao Paolo Brazil.
GATF is an active participant in the Net Impact
lecture series. On May 13th, 2010, GATF founders
Domenica Peterson and Grant Ennis joined Heather
Franzese of Fair Trade USA (formerly TransFair USA)
and Meghan Connolly Haupt of C5 Jewelry Company
for a panel discussion titled “Ethical Supply Chains in
Luxury Goods: Exciting, Green and Fabulous“ in San
Francisco. The four speakers discussed sustainable
supply chain complexities and the challenges of starting ethical fashion companies. Participants included
apparel industry professionals as well as professionals from all industries interested in sustainability.
GATF presented at the Starts With You Global Sustainability Symposium in Sao Paolo Brazil the weekend of
October 9-11, 2010. At SWU, GATF connected with
other specialists, thinkers, politicians, businesspeople and representatives of NGOs to discuss
the main themes of sustainability that affect the
world in the 21st century. This Concert-Symposium
featured 60 high profile bands including Dave
Matthews Band, Incubus, Kings of Leon, Linkin
Park, Os Mutantes, Pixies, Rage Against the
Machine,

Regina

Spektor

and

many

more.

26

PROJECTS

27

Workshops
Workshops are essential to creating permanent

growing. Thirty participants created jewelry out

consumer habits. They teach best practices and

of waste, including old electronic waste, yogurt

show how individuals can take action in their own

containers, and old jewelry pieces. The event took

lives. Workshops provide people with the skills

place at Press Club in downtown San Francisco.

and knowledge they need to have a positive im-

On November 20, Domenica Peterson taught a

pact individually and collectively. In 2010, GATF

class for young girls aged 10-14 on Ethical Fashion

conducted two ethical fashion workshops in ad-

in San Francisco. The class began early in the day

dition to our large t-shirt reconstruction event.

with a presentation, videos and a question and an-

These included an ethical fashion jewelry-making

swer session about what ethical fashion means,

course and an ethical fashion workshop for kids.

what the fashion industry is like, and how to be an

At the â&#x20AC;&#x153;How to Make it Ecoâ&#x20AC;? ethical jewelry making

ethical fashion consumer. The second part of the day

class, GATF collaborated with Do Good Lab to show

consisted of a trip to purchase environmentally friend-

how global change can be made through local eco

ly fabric and a sewing class in which the girls realized

fashion. Co-founder Domenica Peterson managed

designs they had prepared and illustrated ahead

a recycled jewelry-making workshop on June 26

of time. The purpose of the course was to empower

with proceeds donated to the kids of the Kenyan

people to integrate sustainability into their fashion

non-profit Champions in order to purchase a school

consumption habits from a young age while provid-

building in Nairobi, Kenya. Champions works in

ing them with skills to make their own creations and

Mathare, the oldest slum in Nairobi, second larg-

enabling them to refashion and repair used clothes,

est in Kenya, and with a population of 700,000 and

extending their life and keeping them out of landfills.

FUTURE FOR GLOBAL ACT

29

TION THROUGH FASHION
GATF plans to go beyond what we have

College of the Arts will bring together all of the key

accomplished in our first year. We will continue to

local and international actors in ethical fashion. It

host educational lectures and workshops. We are

will be a participant-led conference with plenary

also in discussion with large apparel companies to

and breakout sessions with participant speak-

provide fellowships for recent college graduates

ers. As an outcome of this conference, GATF is

to develop innovation in sustainable design that

drafting an Ethical Fashion State of the Industry

is applicable to large supply chains and retailers.

Report. This document will work to unite the
ethical

International Ethical Fashion
Conference

fashion

community

through

shared,

documented, best practices and increase in
the impact of ethical fashion on society and
the environment worldwide.

Ethical Fashion State of the
Industry Report
This comprehensive document aims to unite the ethical fashion community through sharing documented
best practices, increasing the impact of ethical fashion on society and the environment worldwide. It
will thoroughly outline the social and environmental
challenges and opportunities of the fashion industry
exhaustively in a format easily accessible to consum-

This first ever ethical fashion conference in alliance

ers, while staying useful to producers and designers.

with San Francisco State University and California

As a non-profit in a field of for-profit social enterprise

fashion companies, we are the likely and ideal candi-

T-shirt from the ‘89 Steel Wheels tour. We will ask not

date to produce this report. Maintaining an objective

just the young women passing the velvet rope at a

stance on the issues, we have the knowledge, staff, and

trendy club, but also the club’s ladies’ room attendant

expertise to make these documents and others like it

and the valet in the parking lot. The Keith Richards,

centerpieces for the growing field of ethical fashion.

The Prince Charles, The Lady Gaga, and The Oscar
de la Renta or personalities of their standing will all

•San Francisco Eco Tuesday

• SF Fashion and Merchants Alliance

• Manymore

Video Series and YouTube
Channel

Ethical Fashion Documentary
Film, for Release in 2012

be featured. The method is to find clues that take us
and what that says about our future. Will we accept

GATF will upload videos on our YouTube channel about

The medium of film enables GATF to educate the larg-

responsibility for the true costs of our clothing choic-

ethical fashion. These will include interviews with those

es? Does it really matter if the clothes we put on our

working in the ethical fashion industry, spotlights on

bodies are made with respect for the people who pro-

leaders, and latest news on innovation in the field.

est audience possible in order to change perceptions
about fashion and consumerism. This documentary
will positively inspire and empower the fashion industry, consumers, and hopefully governments to take
action through fashion and consumerism. This is a culture of fast fashion, where clothing is readily available
as something that is cheap, trendy, and disposable.
In October 2010, GATF began filming with cinematographer Mark Leibowitz at London and Milan
fashion weeks. The film will not only be delightful
and exciting for all people to watch, but it will also
highlight the realities of the global fashion industry
and inspire action to make the world a better place.
The framework of the picture is a provocative
series of five questions each triggering a chapter of the tale we have to tell. The answers often turn surprisingly serious with personal stories that resonate clearly with the audience.
To get a wide range of responses, open ended questions are asked to a broad array of people – from celebrities and top models to men and women on the
streets around the world; from workers in garment
centers to the CEOs of major corporations. We will ask
the rock star, the roadie, and the girl who treasures the

deeper into the mystery of what we wear and why,

duced them and the environment that protects us all?
This documentary film is an international exploration

How-To Guides

of how the practice of fashion, on an every-day level,
from the most public to the most personal, affects the

On our website, GATF will provide “How To” manu-

globe’s people and its environment. This film speaks

als on ethical fashion written by experts in the field.

to how we see ourselves, how we want to be seen,
and what we most desire. The film empowers the
audience, making vital connections between what
we wear and how fabrics, trims, and clothes are produced. It aims to reveal how each purchase we make
affects the lives of others. The film becomes a call to
action, portraying the hidden costs of bargain goods
and investigating the global supply chain that can
lead from exploitation to elegance. It also shows how
fresh choices and expanded awareness can result
in permanent and substantial impact. Through the
lens of fashion, the consumer economy can change
for the better of the environment, and humanity.

Presentations and Lectures at
international conferences and
Lecture Series

Blog, Twitter, and Facebook
Our team will actively update our blog, Facebook,
and twitter to keep the public in the loop. In 2011,
we want to create a community of 5,000 advocates
on Facebook interacting with us and telling their
story. We will encourage people to come on our
Facebook and post a question/comment so the rest
of the community and or GATF can post answers.

Technical Assistance
Global Action Through Fashion provides technical assistance that the fashion industry can
rely on for high- quality information services for
improving

labor

and

environmental

practices.

FUTURE

The reality of the fashion industry is that many individual producers in
the developing world work long hours under strenuous conditions
for pennies on the dollar, far less than a living wage.

32

TEAM

Domenica Peterson,
Chief Visionary Officer
and Co-founder
Domenicaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s professional career has focused on using fashion as a tool to solve global problems and
she has worked with industry leaders in Fair Trade
Fashion. She has led social entrepreneurship organizations, coordinated international aid projects and
worked for the U.S. based Fair Trade pioneer TransFairUSA on the first certification standard for Fair
Trade apparel and textiles in the US. She worked in
London doing public relations for the Fair Trade Fashion label PeopleTree and in Brussels sewing for the
couture fashion label NATAN. In addition to GATF,
Domenica serves on the SF Global Green Committee
and is a contributing writer for Coco Eco Magazine.

33

Grant Ennis,
Chief Operating Officer
and Co-founder
Grant has over 5 years experience working
with international nonprofits both in the field
and in the U.S. He has a background in youth
livelihood development and microfinance and sees
ethical fashion as the ideal framework for promoting supply chain consciousness among consumers.

Laura Russell,
Research Associate,
and UK Representative

England in B.A. Fashion and Textile Management.
She met Domenica at People Tree and from there
became involved with GATF. Lauraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s university thesis explored how mainstream fashion companies in
particular could adopt fair trade fashion. Laura enjoys
dressmaking and constructing items from recycled
materials.

Melissa Hook,
Research Associate

Kestrel Jenkins, PR and Research
Associate
Whether the driving force was language or fashion, Kestrelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest in global issues has led her
around the world. She worked as a journalist with
El Diario Austral in Chile, did PR for People Tree
in London and taught English to elementary students in Madrid, Spain. She found all of her interests
collide in Fair Trade Fashion, where her energy

Melissa joined Global Action Through Fashion to

and spirit inspire a thirst to understand more and

learn and provide insight on textiles and environ-

more about the field. She has a B.A. from Hamline

mental business consulting. Melissa has worked

University in Global Studies, International Journal-

in the fashion industry as a fashion consultant.

ism, and Spanish. Her blog Make Fashion Fair is fan-

She loves to sew and produce designs made of

tastic. She currently works in NYC at inhabitat.com.

Currently working for a large UK apparel com-

recycled or discarded materials. Melissa graduated fron

pany, Lauraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest in ethical fashion developed

SF State with Fashion merchandising major and Market-

during her study at Nottingham Trent University,

ing minor with an emphasis in Environmental Studies.

Jo Gruszka, Marketing, and
Research Associate
Jo’s passion for fashion and desire to impact
the world through her work drew her to Global
Action Through Fashion. She also works for lo-

ance and feedback. Board members also provide

area and invested recently in the all-organic res-

resource networking and funding opportunities.

taurant Gather Restaurant in downtown Berkeley.
He is also involved in a project in Nicaragua helping

Connie Ulasewicz, San Francisco
State University

cal SF Bay Area designer Babette and in her free

the rural poor. Through his network and business
experience, Morten hopes to add support to the business perspective of Global Action Through Fashion.

time creates collages of others’ stories. Jo gradu-

(Board Chair) Connie Ulasewicz is an Associate Pro-

ated with a BS degree in Apparel Design and

fessor at San Francisco State University in Apparel

Merchandising with a minor in Marketing from

Design and Merchandising. Her research interests

SF State.

include social entrepreneurship, community engaged

Tierra Del Forte is Senior Manager of Business

scholarship and extending the lifecycle of sewn

Development,

Tierra Del Forte, Fair Trade USA
Apparel,

and

Textiles

at

Fair

products. She is also co- author of the 2008 book

Trade USA and brings over a decade of apparel

Sustainable Fashion Why Now, and speaks at confer-

industry experience to our board. Tierra spent the

Adele is passionate about art and Japanese culture.

ences and trade shows to spread the word. Connie

early years of her career in New York, working for the

A recent graduate of Ohio State University

has over 25 years of garment industry experience

denim brands Mudd Jeans and Younique Clothing.

with a major in Japanese language and a

managing production, merchandising, and sales.

During this time, Tierra developed an awareness

fine art minor, Adele works as GATFs Graphic

She is a founding member of ESRAB, Educators for

of the destructive impact that the apparel indus-

Designer. She is also an amazing seamstress

Social Responsibility in Apparel, and people Wear

try has on the environment and the people who

and plays a key role in assisting at our events.

SF, a Bay Area non-profit sewn product industry as-

make the clothes. This awareness motivated her to

sociation. Dr. Ulasewicz earned her BS in Education/

launch Del Forte Denim Inc. — a line of premium

Clothing and Textiles at Syracuse University, her MS in

denim made from 100% certified organic cotton and

Historic Textiles at the University of Maryland, and

produced under ethical conditions in the USA. In 2009,

her PhD in Human Development at Fielding Graduate

Tierra joined Fair Trade USA to help launch the Fair

University.

Trade CertifiedTM Apparel and Linens pilot program.

Adele Reeves, Graphic Designer

Advisory Board
Under the inspired leadership of Board Chair Connie

Ulasewicz,

the

five-member

professional

Advisory Board is truly a force to be reckoned
with. Our board members provide time, talent

Morten Simonsen, Entrepreneur

and treasure to GATF’s program and operations.

Antony Waller, People Tree

Morten Simonsen earned his MSc in Trond-

Anthony started at Paul Smith, and has since

The uniqueness of this board, whose experience

heim,

MBA

worked at D&G, the Ben Sherman account and is

ranges from academia to business to international

from Denver University in 1982. After working in

currently Head of Press at the London office of

development to fashion design and beyond, sets

the shipping business in Norway and USA for 25

People Tree. Antony knows how to make ethical

us apart and provides us with invaluable guid-

years, he moved to the SF Bay area in 2006. Morten

fashion mainstream, successful, in turn improve the

now works with several start-up companies in the

lives of producers, and protect the environment.

Norway

before

completing

his

TEAM
Antony earned his Fashion PR degree from London
College of Fashion and brings over 10 years
experience of high fashion, high street fashion,
and ethical fashion.

Lynda Grose, Designer, Consultant, and Educator,
California College of the Arts Lynda Grose has been
working on sustainability in fashion for 20 years. She
cofounded ESPRIT’s e-collection line, launched in 1992.
This line was the first ecologically responsible clothing
line marketed internationally by a major corporation.
As a practicing designer, consultant, and educator,
Lynda now works in a range of capacities from advising
farmers and artisans, to private companies and NGO’s.
Lynda has been teaching sustainability in fashion for
ten years. She developed the groundbreaking curricula for Fashion Design Sustainability at California
College of the Arts (CCA) and currently serves as Assistant Professor in CCA’s fashion design program.
Lynda’s is a contributing author to Sustainable
Textiles, Woodhouse Publishing and is currently
co-authoring the book Fashion Sustainability Incubator, with Laurence King Publishers. A frequent
speaker at trade conferences, colleges and museums internationally, Lynda was identified
by London’s Financial Times as one of their
‘green power brokers’. She is most passionate about embracing sustainability as the
core of innovation and the potential of design to bring form to a sustainable society.

36

FINANCES

37

In 2010, year one, $19,570.85 was raised.

48

%

22

15 %
%

22%

48%

or $4,250 went
to payroll.

4%

6%

4%

4%
4%
or $875 went to
or $771 went to

6%

or $1,206 went to
transportation.

meetings.

legal fees.

15%

or $2,972 went
to rent.

or $9,314 went
to projects.
Global Action Through Fashion Spending

With the support of donors like you, we hope to fundraise over $100,000 more in 2011 in order expand our
programs, pay program associates, directors, and positively impact the environment and the lives of workers
around the world on a greater scale. as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations to GATF are tax deductible.

Become a partner of Global
Action Through Fashion.
Become a member of our advisory board and join an
exceptional group of people in enabling our work to
scale!

2011

• Connect us with the fashion community

• Connect us with the philanthropicdonor

community
• Connect us with the international devel

growth of ethical fashion. Millions of people — from
garment workers in the developing world to local US
industry — will share the benefits. As an official 501(c)
(3) non-profit organization, donations to GATF are tax
deductible.
Here are some of the ways you can give to the future
of Ethical Fashion:

Annual Sponsor

opment community and more

Volunteer

•Become a full-time writer for GATF

working our publications, research,

news or blogs

• Become anon-call program volunteer for

our 1-3 day conferences and workshops

Sponsor
GATF is the leading 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
providing educational and informational assistance to
fashion consumers, manufacturers, and companies in the
United States, but we do not work alone. As a non-profit
organization, we rely on the partnership of a vision-

39

ary community of donors who give to support the

•$25,000 and up - Platinum Sponsors

• $10,000 and up-GoldSponsors

• $5,000 and up-SilverSponsors

• $1,000 and up-BronzeSponsors

• $100 and up - Friend Sponsors

To learn more about sponsorship benefits visit our
website

at

www.globalactionthroughfashion.org.

Become a Project Sponsor

Project Sponsor
$100,000 - Help us grow this year. This number
includes all of the operating costs for our organization for one year. $10,000 - Bring the industry
together in the same room for the first time and
take action to create a unified movement to make the

fashion industry better. This money will go toward
our international conference, aimed for Fall 2011.
$5,000 - Support the Bay Areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest and most fun
Ethical Fashion experience. Be the sponsor of our 2011
Bay Area Ethical Fashion Night. $4,000 - Sponsor a space
for us to do our work and host workshops and lectures.

40

We are extremely grateful to
the following donors, advisors, staff members, and volunteers
who helped us accomplish so much this year.